Column Treatment Case Report No. 87｜ ILC International Lumbago Clinic (Tokyo Clinic)
July 11, 2023
Patient Case
The patient
A male patient in his 80s.
The patient’s medical history to date
More than 10 years ago, the patient first felt pain in his lower back.
In 2020, he began to feel pain in his buttocks and heaviness in his right and left thighs.
Surgery was recommended after block injections and medication had no effect.
The patient came to our clinic to improve his symptoms.
Symptoms before treatment
・Pain levels before treatment
| Lower back | Lower limbs | Numbness | Buttocks | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pain level | 8 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
No pain at all is rated as 0, and the maximum possible pain is rated as 10.
Main area of pain and numbness: lower back, buttocks, back of the left thigh.
Bending forward: no change
Bending backward: no change
Lasegue test: negative
Point of tenderness: none
Additional explanations on our clinic’s medical examination
・Daily activities
Pain is aggravated when turning in bed and with prolonged sitting.
The patient walking ability is unaffected.
Imaging and findings
- L4/5 – spinal canal stenosis
- L4a- anterolisthesis
- L1/2 to 5/s – disc degeneration (including mild degeneration)
The above findings were also observed on the imaging.
・L4/5 – The disc protrusion is compressing the nerve, resulting in spinal canal stenosis, and is the most probable cause of the main symptoms.
・L3/4,5/s – indicated as a preventive measure due to the disc degeneration.
Based on the examination and imaging findings, we proposed the above treatment.
Treatment
After consulting with the patient, the Cellgel Method was performed on L3/4, 4/5 and 5/s.
The treatment was performed by Dr. Kono.
This is an image of the patient’s back after the Discogel injection.
The treatment took about 25 minutes.
After resting in the recovery room, the patient was able to walk home by herself.
Our clinic’s treatment method
Additional information about the Cellgel method we have introduced in this column.
Cost of the Cellgel method: 1,320,000 yen per area (including tax) to 1,760,000 yen per 5 areas (including tax)
Risks and side effects of the Cellgel method: Transient pain may occur after treatment. Nerve damage is not a zero possibility due to the very nature of the treatment, but there have been no reports of damage so far in either report cases or publications. There is a very small possibility of allergic reactions to local anesthetics. Symptoms may temporarily worsen during the first week or two after treatment. This is believed to be due to the decompression effect of the implant, which retracts the surrounding tissues. In addition, if the disc is almost completely collapsed, treatment may be difficult. The doctor hold a consultation with you during your visit to the clinic to determine the best treatment option for your condition.
For more detailed information, please refer to the following links:
Blog page explaining the Cellgel Method in an easy-to-understand manner
The Cellgel Method on our treatment methods page
This article was written by the Administrative Director of our clinic
